Day 1 at Royal Ascot....

Monday, 16th June 2025

Day 1 at Royal Ascot….

Pointers for Royal Ascot here….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in the handicaps on Day 1 at Royal Ascot….

I’m on MR HAMPSTEAD in the Ascot Stakes at 5.00 – he’s up at 16s ….

…. and I’m on AERONAUTIC at 16s in the Copper Horse at 6.10….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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The big three in the market….

…. the Mullins pair and East India Dock….

…. take a big chunk out of the book for the Ascot Stakes (5.00)….

Plenty of punters will want to be on one of those….

…. and it will be no big surprise if the winner emerges from that trio….

Fair enough – fancied horses are generally fancied for good reason….

…. but I’m much more interested in any potential value their short prices create further down the order….

Manxman is interesting on the back of a sequence of good performances stretching back 12-months – no doubt….

…. but I wonder if the ground will prove just a tad quicker than ideal for him tomorrow….

…. and at a bigger price I like the horse he beat a neck at Goodwood last time – MR HAMPSTEAD at 16s….

He appeared to get outstayed by the Crisford horse that afternoon….

…. but I don’t think it was lack of stamina for the trip that got him beat….

Instead, I’m mindful Mr Hampstead had got himself into a bit of a dual up-front…

…. and that probably told on him in the latter stages of the race….

…. enabling Manxman – who’d enjoyed a quieter early- and mid-race passage further back in the field – to come over the top of him at the death….

It’s worth noting that the third horse home that day at Goodwood has been out and won since….

You’d hope David Egan and connections will take something from that Goodwood experience….

…. and if energy can be distributed a little more in the early parts of tomorrow’s race I reckon Mr Hampstead – like Manxman – will stay the 2m4f trip….

He’s only had seven goes on turf….

…. he remains unexposed – especially at these proper staying trips….

…. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t have more to give off a mark of 91….

…. and I think he’s a nice bet at the big price….

In the Copper Horse at 6.10 I’m backing AERONAUTIC at the general 16s….

There’s no doubt in my mind that he needed his seasonal reappearance over an inadequate trip at the Curragh….

…. that’s he’s a better horse than he’s shown to date….

…. and that – in time – he will rank a player at a level above handicaps….

He’s totally unexposed….

…. he’s been talked about as a stakes horse in the making by trainer Jospeh O’Brien….

…. and a mark of 95 is not beyond him….

Tomorrow’s trip is where he wants to be….

…. the track will suit….

…. so too underfoot conditions….

…. and – in my book – he’s one with the scope to take a big step forward at a decent price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for Day 2….

Win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd